This post will cover a few of tips to repair the Toshiba Libretto’s screen when it starts to show green lines.

So after a bit of usage I noticed a green line on the right of my screen, these lines are fairly common with a damaged screen connector and pressing a side will most likely show improvement on most portables nowadays. However the Toshiba Libretto won’t bulge at all for this trick.

The problem with the Libretto relies on the build quality. The screen itself is the support structure. Quite nasty! The fairly light and soft encasing is just there to protect the components against external damage, and doesn’t really support the structure. It is soft plastic with no real support bearings. The structural strength needs to be provided by the screen and 4 screws (marked on photo below). So by opening the screen you are actually putting pressure on the screen and tearing it. Which might cause a faulty connection.

Repairing a faulty connector might be tricky however I did succeed and here are a few tips to fix this issue:

1. Reassemble

Pretty straightforward, unplug everything and realign the cables and make sure that all screws are super tight. Mostly there is no need to actually open the Libretto itself as the problem is usually not related to the connection to the motherboad.

Opening the case can be done by unscrewing the two screws at the bottom. You will need to remove the stickers first that cover up the screws.

Once these are removed, carefully pry apart the screen case. It should open when pulling below the screen (red arrows) cover and on the sides (green arrow).

So once the cover is removed it should look like this:

Loosen the connecor below and remove the four screws and carefully lift the screen.

Note: This is one of the four screws supporting the case with the screen. As you can see there is no real support available except a metal piece connecting the hinge with the plastic. The structural strength needs to be provided by the screen.

Close up and test. If it fails see option 2.

2. Detect faulty connectors

Remember pressing the screen at random places with new portable computers? It is because you are pressing a loose connector on its contact point. Something similar might be possible with the Libretto. Except you need to deassamble the screen and carefully apply pressure on the backside while the screen is on. As there are no pressure points to be found on the case. It’s just solid plastic.

If you can spot the connector that needs to be tightened, use some ducktape or strong tape and put it on the back of the lid. It will keep the losse connector in place.

If you can’t find the spot to fix, see the last option (option 3).

3. Buy another Libretto

This one is the last option, buy a new one with a good screen. The old SHARP displays are still in use nowadays and are still being produced but at prices around ~$90, which is the price you can probably score a new second hand Libretto on eBay. Also because not every Libretto is exactly the same and not all hinges/casing/locks or pulling patterns are the same chances are that you are being left with two perfectly functioning Librettos.

Final note: I hope this might fix those nasty green stripes (which I think are fairly common) on your Libretto’s screen. On my Libretto it did fix it, however it took options 2 and 3 to fix the problem. Just be extremely careful not to damage the screen when it is on.